JD2520 Grille Guard

[dadohead]

Had some close calls in the last few years using the forks w/ FEL handling wood. A few branches snuck past the factory guard and dented up the grille. Was able to bend back though; that's a $450 part! So had some time this winter to model up a design on CAD adding reinforcement to the factory guard. So far... love it!

 

[Rustyiron]

Very nicely done!

 

[Sportsman762]

That is one of the nicest guards I have ever seen. Can you post the details on how you fabricated it, and what material you used? Nice work!

 

[dadohead]

That is one of the nicest guards I have ever seen. Can you post the details on how you fabricated it, and what material you used? Nice work!

Thanks for the nice words guys!

I started by modeling the existing factory guard then adding in the vertical grille bars until I thought the proportions looked right (3/8" dia bars on 1" centers). Looks like I didn't bother adding in the RH side.

The vertical bars needed to follow the profile of the factory horizontal bars and some kind of structure was needed at the bottom to carry them. Modeling on CAD, I found that 1/8" x 1" steel strip stock could be bent in 2 places and follow the profile fairly close.

A quick drawing gave me the details I needed to fab it at the bench. All the steel stock came from the local hardware steel rack (save big money!)

I tacked the lower strap on and installed the guard on the tractor making sure it still tilted through its proper range and there was good access to the hood latch. With that, the 3/8" vertical bars were welded in. The headlight frame is also 1/8x1" strip stock and was bent around a plywood form at the bench vise. Holes were bored in the form allowing C-clamps to secure the steel as bending proceeded. Once installed, the headlights still looked a little vulnerable so I played on CAD finding a design that closed things up a bit but allowed some light to shine through. The X-braces are 1/4" dia.

I'm no welder but it's held together so far: grinder and paint make me the welder I ain't!

 

[JohnP3616]

Super good job on that.

 

[Sportsman762]

Wow, that was some darned good fabricating and layout work. Thanks for giving us the background on how you did it.

 

[BackRoad]

Nicely designed and executed!

 

[Bansil]

Me likey nice fab work, I'm breaking out my lap top today to draw up some brackets to work on my cage..
Great paint job, powder coat or spray? Matches great!!

What program? AND what is/was day job?

 

[dadohead]

Thanks!
Paint- applied with a brush! I left the powder coat showing on the original frame. An oil primer was applied under the green enamel I got at JD for the new parts.

I run Pro/E software... same as I ran as an engineer at JD for 30 years. ;<)

 

[oosik]

Fantastic job. And it does two things - protects and looks amazing.